RecruitPKB: Everything You Need to Know to Begin the Recruiting Process

It's been a while since I've walked through the foundational steps of the college recruiting process, so for those of you just getting started — here's a straightforward rundown of what the journey looks like from beginning to end. Step 1: Get an Evaluation Start by getting an evaluation from a qualified third party who genuinely understands junior girls golf, women's college golf, and the girls recruiting process specifically. There is a lot of information out there — and unfortunately, a lot of it is misleading or easy to misinterpret. Because this process looks different for every player, getting an honest, experienced outside perspective from the start will help you understand exactly how the process aligns with your goals, timeline, and expectations. Step 2: Understand the NCAA Rules Know the rules before you act. There have been significant changes to the recruiting process over the years that [...]

By |2026-06-11T08:03:32-04:00June 11th, 2026|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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RecruitPKB: What Is Golf IQ — And Do College Coaches Think You Have It? Part 1

This is from a coach survey I conducted, in which I asked college coaches to weigh in on the recruiting process. Every coach is different, but what follows represents some of the most consistent and eye-opening themes from their responses. The question: What are some examples you look for to help identify good golf IQ and players who can compete and get better at the next level? The responses were fascinating — and honestly, every junior golfer and her parents should read this carefully. It Starts With How You Handle Adversity If there was one theme that dominated the coach responses, it was this: they are watching how you respond when things go wrong — not when they go right. As one coach put it plainly, "I love to watch players during their rough rounds. College golf will likely be more challenging than their prior experiences, so [...]

By |2026-05-08T10:33:44-04:00May 8th, 2026|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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RecruitPKB: What College Coaches Really Think About Your Social Media

Over the years, I have conducted coach surveys to ask their opinions on different topics. Below are some of the responses from coaches on their views of social media in the recruiting process. Don't feel like social media is something you must use in the process if you aren't comfortable with it, but it can be a great resource for exposure and research. Keep in mind that every coach is different — they look for different things and have varying opinions — but what follows represents some of the most common and consistent themes from their responses. What are the best ways for recruits to use social media during the process? And what turns you off? What Coaches Want to See The responses were remarkably consistent on this one. Coaches want to see a genuine mix of golf and personality — not a highlight reel, and not [...]

By |2026-04-28T20:09:21-04:00April 28th, 2026|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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RecruitPKB: Sharing Your Tournament Results with College Coaches

Sharing Your Tournament Results with College Coaches Now that spring golf is in full swing, many of you have built up a solid list of tournament results. If you haven't been keeping coaches updated along the way, now is the perfect time to compile everything into a clean, organized format and send it out. Format matters. Coaches are busy, so make your results easy to read at a glance. A chart or bullet-point list works best and should include the following for each tournament: Date & Tournament Name Golf Course Scores & Finish Stats — par, yardage, slope, and rating (when available) Most coaches will already be familiar with the tournaments in your region, including the course conditions and strength of the field. However, if you're reaching out to coaches outside your area, don't assume they have that context — a little extra detail goes a long [...]

By |2026-04-22T14:51:33-04:00April 20th, 2026|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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RecruitPKB: How to Handle Bad Breaks on the Golf Course Like a Pro

How to Handle Bad Breaks on the Golf Course Like a Pro Every player, no matter their skill level, will eventually face a bad break on the course. A ball that kicks into a bunker instead of onto the green. A putt that lips out instead of going in. A buried lie in the sand when you needed a clean shot. These moments are as much a part of golf as the game itself — and in many ways, they're what make it so compelling. The real question isn't whether bad breaks will happen. They will. The question is what you do when they do. The Jordan Spieth Example During the playoff at the Shell Houston Open several years ago, Jordan Spieth was set up over a greenside bunker shot when a camera or phone went off mid-backswing. He flinched, caught the ball fat, and the shot [...]

By |2026-04-16T16:28:47-04:00April 16th, 2026|College Recruiting Articles|1 Comment
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RecruitPKB: Prepare for Tournaments Better

Why Practice Rounds Don’t Equal Tournament Scores—and How to Prepare for That One of the most common things I hear from players and parents is: “But I played great during my practice round and shot ___.”or“I always play well at my home course.” And then the tournament comes… and the results don’t match. The reality is simple: practice rounds and tournament rounds are not the same—and they never will be. The goal isn’t to make them the same. The goal is to prepare for the difference—and understand how you’re going to feel, think, and react when it actually counts. Stop Keeping Score in Practice Rounds One of the biggest mistakes players make is treating practice rounds like tournaments. When you keep score, you start creating expectations:“I shot this yesterday, so I should shoot this again.” But conditions change. Pin locations change. Weather changes. Most importantly, pressure changes. [...]

By |2026-04-11T14:25:51-04:00April 9th, 2026|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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Recruit PKB: Warm Up Like a Pro

Why Your Warm-Up Matters More Than Your Swing One of the most common conversations I have with junior golfers isn’t about swing mechanics—it’s about preparation. Recently, I was on a call with a player who wanted help building a tournament warm-up plan. She told me she often felt rushed before her rounds, unsure of what to focus on, and never quite settled by the time she reached the first tee. The truth is—that’s not unusual. Most players walk onto the range and start hitting balls with no real intention. They’re trying to “feel good” instead of actually getting ready to play. But the best players—at every level—approach their warm-up differently. They have a plan. They’re deliberate. They understand exactly what they’re trying to accomplish before the round even begins. And if there’s one area I consistently emphasize, especially for tournament players, it’s this: Speed control on the [...]

By |2026-04-02T09:11:25-04:00April 1st, 2026|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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RecruitPKB: Negative Self Talk

Talk to Yourself Like You Would a Playing Partner Every time you hit a bad shot, have a tough hole, or make a mental mistake, pause for a second and ask yourself this: “What would I say to my playing partner if they just did the same thing?” Chances are, you wouldn’t respond with,“That was stupid,”“What were you thinking?” or“You’re terrible.” More than likely, you’d say something like,“It’s okay,”“Shake it off,” or“You’ve got the next one.” You probably wouldn’t have much emotional reaction at all. You might feel for them if they’re having a rough day, but you would never put them down or question their ability. So why do we do that to ourselves? Why is it so easy to tear ourselves down after a bad shot or mistake—but so natural to build others up? You Are Not Your Enemy The truth is, many golfers become [...]

By |2026-03-26T14:25:22-04:00March 25th, 2026|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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RecruitPKB: Free 30 Minute Consultation

I wanted to take this week’s article as an opportunity to share more about the free 30-minute RecruitPKB “Intro to the College Recruiting Process” consultation available to all National PKB members—and how it can help you. If you’re planning to begin the recruiting process but aren’t sure where to start or what steps to take, this session is designed to give you clarity, direction, and a plan moving forward. During this consultation, we will cover: A general overview of your tournament experience, scoring average, and academics Your goals and expectations, and how they align with college golf standards A breakdown of recruiting timelines and key dates based on your graduation year A simple outline for building your golf resume, swing video, and introductory email My goal is to help you leave the session with a clear understanding of the process and the next steps you should take. [...]

By |2026-03-18T09:39:08-04:00March 17th, 2026|College Recruiting Articles|0 Comments
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RecruitPKB: Why Golf Tournaments Aren’t Where Girls Actually Improve

Why Golf Tournaments Aren’t Where Girls Actually Improve Junior girls spend countless hours preparing for tournaments. Players, parents, and coaches often measure progress by one thing: the scorecard. But here’s a truth that many golfers don’t fully understand until later in their development: Tournaments are where you test your game—not where you grow it. Real improvement in junior golf happens long before the first tee shot in competition. Understanding this difference can help players develop faster, build confidence, and avoid common recruiting mistakes. Growth vs. Performance in Junior Golf One of the most important concepts in junior golf development is understanding the difference between growth and performance. Growth involves learning and developing skills: Improving swing mechanics Developing short game touch Building confidence Experimenting with new techniques Performance, on the other hand, is about executing those skills under pressure. Golf tournaments are designed for performance. Players are focused [...]

By |2026-03-11T15:39:40-04:00March 11th, 2026|Uncategorized|0 Comments
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